August 2009 - Report and Summary

by Robert K. Peters, Ph.D. - National Weather Service Cooperating Observer

The month of August 2009 was slightly cooler and slightly drier than normal. Compared with August 2008, last month was 0.3 deg. Cooler, and 7.45 inch drier. Year-to-date rainfall through August 31 was 11.28 inches less in 2009 than in 2008. The thirty-day outlook had called for above normal temperatures and near normal precipitation.

The week July 26-August 1 saw temperatures about 4 degrees below normal, and rainfall about 800 percent of normal. Daily
rainfall records of 2.52 and 1.78 inches were set on the 30th and 1st, respectively. Winds aloft during the week were northwesterly, permitting cold fronts and upper air disturbances to cross the region. The week's average temperature was 80.4 deg., and rainfall was 4.78 inches. This was 0.4 deg. Cooler than the previous week, and continued the mild and wet weather of the last half of the month. Compared with the same week in 2008, the week was 7.9 deg. Cooler, and there was no rain in 2008.

The week August 2-8 saw near normal temperatures, and rainfall about 40 percent of normal. Readings warmed during the week, as upper air high pressure returned to the region. There were scattered late-day showers on the 5th and 6th. The moist soils and green vegetation in East Texas held down temperatures below where they might otherwise have reached. There were occurrences of severe weather in the area both afternoons. The week's average temperature was 84.1 deg., and precipitation was 0.33 inch. This was 3.6 deg. Warmer than the previous week. Compared with the same week in 2008, the week was 0.9 deg. Cooler, and 0.54 inch drier.

The week August 9-15 saw near normal temperatures and no precipitation. Surface and upper air high pressure were in control. A weak cold front on the 11th brought lower nighttime temperatures and lower relative humidities. There were thunderstorms over the northern and southern counties. Additional isolated showers formed through the 13th near the decaying frontal boundary to the south and west of Tyler. The week's average temperature was 83.3 deg., which was 0.8 deg. Cooler than the previous week. Compared with the same week in 2008, the week was 2.6 deg. Warmer, and 6.53 inches drier.

The week August 16-22 saw near normal temperatures and no rainfall. During the first five days, surface and upper air high pressure brought warm and dry weather. Rains of earlier in the Summer held down temperatures due to moist soils. Late in the week, a cold front brought below normal temperatures. There were thunderstorms north of the IH-30 Corridor, and over the southern counties. Rain did not fall in Tyler. The week's average temperature was 83.4 deg., 0.1 deg. Warmer than the previous week. Compared with the same week in 2008, the week was 4.6 deg. Warmer and 2.52 inches drier.

The week August 23-29 saw near normal temperatures and rainfall about one-half normal. The week began warm, with the sea-breeze bringing afternoon showers through mid-week. On the 27th, a cold front approached, crossing the following day. This brought widespread showers and thunderstorms on the 27th and 28th, with rains of as much as 8.0 inches over the southeastern counties. The week's average temperature was 81.1 deg., and rainfall was 0.38 inch. The week was 2.3 deg. Cooler than the previous week. Compared with the same week in 2008, the week was 1.0 deg. Cooler, and 0.36 inch wetter.

The final two days of the month were mild and dry, as an unseasonably strong surface high pressure brought mild and dry air into the region.

KEY TO SYMBOLS:

A = HAIL

B = BLOWING

D = DUST

F = FOG

H = HAZE

IP = SLEET

K = SMOKE

L = DRIZZLE

R = RAIN

S = SNOW

T = THUNDERSTORM

Z = GREENWICH MEAN TIME

ZL = FREEZING DRIZZLE

ZR = FREEZING RAIN

- = LIGHT

+ = HEAVY

The reporting period for temperatures and phenomenon on each day is for the twenty-four hours ending at midnight hours GMT--6 p.m. CST and 7 p.m. CDT. The reporting period for precipitation is for the twenty-four hours ending at noon GMT--6 a.m. CST and 7 a.m. CDT. All times are given using the twenty-four hour clock, and are expressed in Greenwich Mean Time.

Observations are from NWS Station 41/9207/4 in Tyler, Texas. The term "normal" refers to averages from the standard climatic period 1971-2000.

AUGUST 2009

MX MN OBS PCPN REMARKS

01 91 70 72 1.78 T, F, +F, PCPN 2100-2400 MN 0000-1200 77

02 93 69 89 0.33 PCPN 0000-0500

03 95 72 91

04 95 75 92

05 94 76 88

06 96 76 86

07 95 74 91

08 94 74 90

09 95 75 88

10 95 76 91

11 90 75 88 MN 0000-1200 77

12 91 71 87

13 92 72 86

14 95 71 87

15 95 73 92

16 95 74 93

17 94 75 94

18 95 75 77

19 95 74 90

20 96 76 93

21 89 72 85 tr.

22 93 67 88 F

23 91 70 87

24 94 74 90

25 94 73 81 0.26 T, PCPN 2000-2200

26 94 71 90

27 85 71 82 0.01 F, PCPN 1900-2000

28 88 71 83 0.11 T, F, PPN 1100-1200, 1900-2000

29 89 70 83

30 86 68 82

31 86 65 79

AUGUST 2009, RECORDS AND SUMMARY:

1ST RAINFALL RECORD, 1.78 IN., PREVIOUS RECORD 1.35 IN. IN 1901;

HIGHEST TEMPERATURE 96 ON THE 6TH AND 20TH,

LOWEST TEMPERATURE 65 ON THE 31ST.

AVERAGE MAXIMUM 92.6 F.,

AVERAGE MINIMUM 72.3 F.,

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 82.5 F.,

1.0 DEG. COOLER THAN NORMAL.

0 HEATING DEGREE DAYS,

0 PERCENT OF NORMAL HEATING DEGREE DAYS.

548 COOLING DEGREE DAYS,

97.0 PERCENT OF NORMAL COOLING DEGREE-DAYS;

TOTAL PRECIPITATION 2.49 IN.,

0.12 IN. LESS THAN MONTHLY NORMAL.

95.4 PERCENT OF NORMAL MONTHLY PRECIPITATION.

YEAR-TO-DATE PRECIPITATION 26.97 IN.,

0.64 IN. LESS THAN NORMAL YEAR-TO-DATE PRECIPITATION,

97.7 PERCENT OF NORMAL YEAR-TO-DATE PRECIPITATION;

3 DAYS ON WHICH THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRED;

4 DAYS ON WHICH THE VISIBILITY WAS RESTRICTED TO BETWEEN 1 AND 7 MILES

BY FOG, SMOKE, OR HAZE;

1 DAYS ON WHICH THE VISIBILITY WAS RESTRICTED TO 1 MILE OR LESS BY FOG;

0 DAYS ON WHICH THE VISIBILITY WAS RESTRICTED BY DUST OR BLOWING DUST;